On the line: Criminals have bagged World Cup security guard jobs

06 February 2010 10:18

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World Cup chiefs have accused European countries of scaremongering, but South Africa's own security regulators, PSIRA, have revealed that criminals and illegal immigrants have obtained accreditation as security guards.[LNB]The news will increase concern about the ability of the organisers to guarantee the [LNB]In need of protection: Wayne Rooney and other stars could be guarded by criminals and illegal immigrants[LNB] safety of stars like England's Wayne Rooney, not to mention officials and supporters, a sensitive issue following the terrorist attack at the Africa Cup of Nations which left three members of the Togo party dead.[LNB]There are more than 800 criminal cases pending against private security companies in South Africa and many guards have police records.[LNB]PSIRA figures show that 188 security officers have had their licences withdrawn in the past year because of convictions for crimes ranging from robbery to rape.[LNB]In the past 18 months, PSIRA have investigated 18 security firms and 38 individuals allegedly involved in fraudulently selling documents, in many cases to unqualified illegal immigrants or criminals.[LNB]Benjamin Ntuli, who heads up a government task force in South Africa, said: 'Our own investigations have highlighted the high number of fraudulent PSIRA certificates being used by shoddy service providers, identity theft and the illegal infiltration of immigrants within the security industry.'[LNB]Rory McIlroy in line to fill Tiger's marketing voidNike sees dashing young Ulsterman Rory McIlroy as the perfect candidate to fill the void in its marketing left by Tiger Woods's fall from grace. The world No9's advisers play down the link but an offer of £25million over four years would be hard to refuse.[LNB]Kevin Pietersen pips Andy Murray in Brylcreem contract racePoorAndy Murray. After the tears of Melbourne come reports that thetousle-haired Scot has missed out on an eye-watering amount of moneyfrom haircare giants Brylcreem.[LNB] Hair's breadth: Pietersen pipped Murray to the post to be the Brylcreem boy[LNB]The word is that he was once in line to be offered the chance tofollow in David Beckham's footsteps but market research revealed a lessthan enthusiastic public, so Kevin Pietersen, whose achievements in thesouthern hemisphere this winter have been less stellar than Murray's,got the £2million gig instead.[LNB]Afghanistan take on USA in Twenty20 cricketThursdaywill provide another example of sport's ability to transcend orignore harsh realities when Afghanistan take on the USA in aqualifying match for the World Twenty20 Championship.[LNB]Away from the horror of the ongoing conflict between the Taliban and forces led by the US in their country, Afghanistan's cricketers are an emerging power, last month inflicting on Ireland their first Intercontinental Cup defeat for more than five years.[LNB]Afghanistan and the US meet in their last Group A match in Dubai Scotland and Ireland are their other opponents in a two-pool mini tournament, with the winners of two semi-finals both progressing to the World Twenty20, which starts in the Caribbean on April 30.[LNB]And finally.........John Terry and his advisers may have been hamfisted in their efforts to prevent news of his latest indiscretion leaking out but a Chelsea star of the past was even less careful. [LNB] Indiscretions: One of Terry's team-mates was even less discreet when leaving the scene[LNB] The player concerned fled the scene of a liaison barely dressed, but left his car, with a distinctive personalised numberplate, at the house of the lucky lady, much to the amusement of his team-mates.[LNB] Manchester United lead Everton in chase for Norwegian defender HovlandRafa Benitez confident of beating Valencia and Milan to Milan JovanovicEx-England caretaker boss Taylor could lead Nigeria at 2010 World CupDES KELLY: Captain Chav John Terry is now England's Daddy Fool[LNB]